Rama stays at Bharadwaj's ashram

Rama said to Sita - I wish to perform the worship of Shiva before reaching Ayodhya.
The chariot came down. A Shiva Linga was constructed with sand. Hanumana fetched flowers and sandalwood  and Rama and Sita performed the worship of Shiva. The spot where Rama performed this worship is known as Rameshwaram.

Showing spots to Sita, Rama said this was where we lived before we crossed the ocean. THat was the spot where we met Vibhishana. There is Kishkindhya where I met Sugriva.

Sita said she recognized the Rishyamukha mountain where she had dropped parts of her clothes and jewels. When I tried to escape, Ravana pulled me by my hair.

Rama said Do not think of that. It is all past. By touching you, Ravana is dead. There you see the ashrama of the sage Matanga. Yonder is a place where we met Kabandha. There is a place where Jatayu died saving you.  There is the hut where we used to live and close by is the place we fought with Khara and Dushana. There is a spot where Surpanakha came and approached us. Nearby is the hut of the sage Sarbhange whose bow and arrows were helpful. There is the river Kunti where I performed the last rites of my father. There is the place where Bharata came to meet me. There close by is the place where my friend Guhaka lives. And close that is Nandigram where Bharata lives. Close to that is the ashrama of sage Bharadwaja.

Rama wanted to visit the sage and the chariot came down.

Bowing down to the sage, Rama said he wanted to meet the sage before proceeding further. He wanted to know how his mothers and brothers were doing, before he entered the city.

The sage said all were well. Bharata was an example to set for all. Having everything, he slept on the ground and wore bark and leaves. On the throne were Rama's slippers which were worshiped.  Bharata would take permission from the slippers before he retired for the night.

The sage then requested Rama to stay with him for a night. He also arranged food for all, by his yogic powers.

When Rama agreed, the sage invoked Vishwakarma, the celestial architect. A palace was created overnight for Rama and the others to stay.
All enjoyed their stay there. Rama then asked Hanumana to inform Bharata and Guhaka about his stay in the ashrama of the sage.

Hanumana leapt upwards. On the way he thought, if met Guhaka in his form, Guhaka may attack him. He decided to appear before Guhaka in a human form.

Hanumana met Guhaka and asked him to go to the ashrama of the sage and meet Rama. Elated, Guhaka started with a troupe of musicians. Guhaka met Rama and was overjoyed to see him. They talked about what Rama had been through.

Hanumana then taking his own form, met to meet Bharata.

Nandigram was a small city well planned and maintained. Everyone was happy there. Bharata ruled from there, praying to Rama's salippers.

Hanumana went to Bharata and introduced himself. Bharata was very happy to see Hanumana. he gave Hanumana many gifts. Bharata wanted to know from Hanumana who were the vanaras with Rama and what was their role. Hanumana told Bharata all that happened till date.

After talking to Hanumana, Bharata sent for Shatrughna.  He said that their days of sorrow were over. Rama had returned. Taking Rama's slippers on his head, Bharata proceeded for the ashrama of sage Bharadwaj along with Shatrughna and Vashishtha.

On his way, Hanumana pointed to Bharata the chariot on which Rama had arrived.

Soon Bharata met Rama. All four brothers hugged each other. Bharata and Shatrughna bowed down at Sita's feet. The chariot then left with all for Ayodhya. 

Bharata meets Bharadwaja

Going further, after crossing the river, they saw beds made of leaves under a tree. Seeing that Bharata recognized this as a spot where Rama had rested. He saw a bit of string stuck to the leaves, probably from a garment worn by Rama or Sita.
Seeing the rays of the sun, coming through the tree branches, Bharata wondered how Rama had spent his night there, out in the open.
Becoming very emotional, Bharata fell on the ground, and Sumantra helped him up.
They spent the night in that spot and the next day they resumed their journey.
They came across the river Ganga and Guhaka arranged for Bharata and his troupe to cross. Once they crossed, Guhaka said he would leave and go back to his land. Bharata embraced him saying someone who was a friend of Rama, was dear to him.
Guhaka left and Bharata resuming his journey came across the ashrama of Rishi Bharadwaja. He went to the sage and introduced himself. He also told the sage that he had come in search of Rama.He told the sage that his troupe was waiting outside the ashrama.
The sage told Bharata to ask all following him, to enter. Bharata said there wasnt much room for all. The sage asked Bharata to go.
Sitting in front of the sacrificial fire, he made his offerings and invoked Vishwakarma, the celestial architect. He asked Vishwakarma to create a palace like the one Indra has. A golden palace with golden rooms appeared. In the palace grounds, was a lake where lotuses were blooming. In the rooms there were golden cots. Apsaras were there, singing melodious songs. Musk was kept everywhere and the rooms smelt heavenly. Rivers of drink were there, along with mountains of food. Kubera provided golden utensils. All this happened in the split of a second.
When Bharata came in with his troupe, they were asked to go inside the palace.

In the heavens, the Gods wondered what would happen after this. If Bharata convinced Rama to return with him, Ravana would not die. They enchanted all who were with Bharata, such that they all forgot why they were there, and started living in the palace. None of them wanted to leave. None, except Bharata, who was constantly thinking of Rama.

Staying the night, in the morning Bharata went to Bharadwaja and asked him where to find Rama. Pleased with Bharata's devotion, the sage asked him to ask for a wish. Bharata said his wish was to see Rama. The sage said Bharata would see Rama, but Rama would not return back. He asked Bharata to the mountain called Chitrakoota where Rama was residing.

Rama reaches Chitrakoot

Sumantra asked Rama what was the next task for him. Rama asked him to go back. He said for three days he had travelled in a chariot as per his father's wishes and now he wished to lead a life of a hermit. Rama asked him to take care of the king till Bharata came back. He also told him to tell Kaushalya and the king that he was fine in the forest and that they should not worry for him.
Rama also told him to go to Kaikeyi and tell her that he had no ill will towards her.
With tears in his eyes, Sumantra left.
Rama then said to Sita and Lakshmana that Ayodhya was not far from the place they were in, and Bharata would come to take them back from there.
They met Guhaka and from there decided to cross the river Ganga and reach the muntain called Chitrakoot.
Guhaka arranged for boats for them to cross the river.
Crossing the river, they met the rishi Bharadwaj. They introduced themselves to the sage.
The sage recognized Rama as an incarnation of Vishnu. When Rama asked for a place where he could stay, the sage pointed out to a nice part of the forest full of trees and birds.
They walked to the forest, Rama in front with bows and arrows in his hand, Sita in the middle and Lakshmana in the end guarding with bows and arrows.

In the skies there was a crow called Jayanta who was attracted by Sita's beauty. He came flying down from the skies, and with his claws he scratched Sita's breasts. After doing so, the crow flew off.
Sita started crying in pain. Rama invoked an arrow and released that, after the crow,

Wherever the crow flew, the arrow followed it. The crow flew towards the mount Kailasha, the arrow followed it there. It then went towards the heaven, but even there the arrow followed it.

When the crow entered the court of Indra, the arrow changed its form into a brahmin and told Indra it wanted the crow. Indra brought the crow there, and the arrow plucked an eye of the bird and went back to Rama.

Friendship with Guhaka and meeting Bharadwaj

On an auspicious day of full moon, Dashratha decided to have a bath in the Ganges along with his sons. Dashratha gave away wealth to the poor.
The chariots sped like comets, accompanied by horsemen and priests. The sound of the movement covered the skies.

On their way, they came across the sage Narada. Narada asked where they were going, to which Dashratha said they were going to have a bath in Ganga.

Narada said You do not know about Rama. Having a look at his face is more then having a dip in the river. Rama is none other than Narayan from whose feet Ganga has originated. You look as Rama as your mortal son and have forgotten about his divinity.

Hearing this Dashratha decided to return back home. Rama then said there would be many who will try deviate one's path. If one has taken a decision, that needs to be adhered to.

Hearing this, Dashratha resumed his journey towards Ganga.

On the way they came across the Chandala Guhaka. Dashratha was passing through the Chandala territory which Guhaka did not like. He stopped them from proceeding further. A fight broke out. Guhaka said You are disturbing me and your army is destroying my land and fields. If you need to go to the river Ganges, choose an alternate path. If you so desire to proceed from this path only, show me your son Rama.

Guhaka started calling out to Rama, and scared for Rama's safety, Dashratha hid Rama in the chariot. Dashratha picked up his bow and he was about to shoot an arrow when he thought he would invoke a bad name if he killed a Chandala. If he let go, the Chandala would pick up a fight.

They started exchanging words and then arrows. Dashratha remembered a weapon called Pashupat. The weapon tied the Chandala with ropes. Dashratha then had the Chandala placed in his chariot.

Guhaka was thinking of Rama. He had obstructed the path only to have a glimpse of Rama, but so far he had not seen him. He thought of a way out. As his hands were tied, he started shooting arrows, holding the bow with one foot, and using the other foot to shoot.

Bharata saw this and reported to Rama about this. Rama curious wanted to see this and went to Guhaka and asked why he was doing thus.

Guhaka said Let me tell you about myself. When Dashratha did not have any sons, he had accidentally killed the son of a blind sage. As this was a death of a sage, the king had gone to his Guru, Vashistha for help and for a way to atone from the sin.
Vashistha was not there then, but I was, as the sage's son called Vamadeva. I had told the king to take your name three times. Hearing this my father had cursed me to become a Chandala. I had then asked what I had to do, to get relief from the curse. My father then said, I would be relieved the moment I saw Rama.
Rama embraced Guhaka.
Rama went to his father and asked for Guhaka to be released, to which Dashratha agreed readily.
Rama then asked Lakshmana to get some logs and start a fire.
When the fire was lit, Rama and Guhaka pledged friendship around the fire.

Guhaka left and Dashratha along with sons proceed towards Ganga.

After bathing, Dashratha distributed alms to the poor and to the brahmins.

When the sun set, Dashratha went to the hermitage of sage Bhardwaj nearby.

The sage was sitting in his hut when Dashrath entered along with four sons. The king with folded hands, presented his sons to the sage, and asked him to bless them.

The sage said Dashratha, you are lucky to have the one who is the father of all worlds as your son.
The sage had a vision of Vishnu standing instead of Rama, in his form of four hands. On his body, the sage saw, the other Gods sitting.

The sage took the king and the princes and asked them to rest for the night. All slept there.
When half of the night was over, the sage woke up. Indra had given a bow for Rama. The sage kept the bow and quiver near Rama's head. He had a dream where in he had been instructed to give the bow and the quiver to Rama.

In the morning Rama saw the bow and the quiver. The sage told Rama that Indra had left the bow for him. The quiver would always be full for arrows, and that was also for Rama.

Rama pleased showed them to Dashratha.

Taking leave of the sage, Dashratha left for Ayodhya.